I shot this in the garden this morningfor the photo friday theme 'Growth'.

Another shot from the Babies from Barrow. This one reminds me of Peter Pan's Tinkerbell.

I don't know about anyone else but I need some warmer times soon.

Having a garden now I find myself eagerly awaiting lazy days in the sun on the lawn.

While I wait here is another black and white from the old stock of my Noo in the rapeseed.

Another spooky photo here (and far more unsettling that yesterdays effort). A homage to scenes from the Blair Witch Project maybe?

This was a successful low-budget film from about1999 which is actually not bad. It was helped along as it was marketed as an actual real-life story. This wasn't the case and it all was fabriacted but it convinced so many people. For instance, Internet Movie database at one point listed the actors for the movie as deceased though I am unsure whether this was a stunt or evidence that even they got hoo-winked.

My friend Nik Kelly and his wife Rachel have just had a healthy baby boy called Thomas. Congratulations guys and welcome to the world Thomas.

Nik hates this picture of an idol with one of the security guards behind it from the Louvre because it has 'Boogly Eyes'!

At the end of the day Ian and I had a shoot out, Old west style! (Except the only shooting was with Nikon digital SLRs and not with bullets). Here is one of Ian and I am sure he will post my 'boat-race' on his PBase account later.

When I was doing my 'A' level I noticed that lots of my artwork I had finished in the lower years consisted of black and white images. I never really explored colour at that point, and certainly nowhere near the level of Chris, my master illustrator friend, who now lives in Brighton.

The reverse was true in my photography. With the wonderful colours of digital reproduction I hadn't done that much mono, and what a shame. If you see some of the work out there. I have been over PBase and some of the mono themes there are breathtaking. I myself have really enjoyed the black and white theme this month so much so I may do another later in the year.

While doing one or the other is neither right or wrong, I do prefer a balance, taking in the most from both colour and black. LIke life really.

So it is back to shooting some colour soon.

I like both of these old shots so I can't decide which to post, hence both go up.

Nik my friend from back home bought a 400D this weekend which he says the only problem with is that he didn't get one sooner. Hopefully I can have a go when I see him.

I took this in the hills in Gran Canaria. The old men there were obliging but didn't really know why I wanted to take their photo. My only wish is if they could have seen themselves (other than on the back of my D70) and maybe better understand why I took their picture.

An abstract shot for tonight I think.

Nothing new today I am afraid but rather I am posting an old shot of the space centre I took back in 2005. I know, i know. It isn't fully black and white, but I fancied a little bit of an embellishment.

Here's a shot of Nik and I snogging (but I could hardly call it that could I?) and one from the plane trip to Tenerife at the end of last year (the trip that almost stopped me flying because we had major turbulance on the way back). What can I say? I have gone form loving flying to cr&*ping myself at the thought of doing it. Tenerife is only 4 hours (only he says!?) but I think I can make it this year. I mean, I would like to see the world and there is no way I am going wuss out and miss all that beauty because I can't stand flying (is there?) not to mention most places are a little further away that the Canaries.

Here is another shot of the flowers (or flower) blooming early this year.

I caught a quick shot here of the new construction on the end of the Shires shopping centre in Leicester on my way to get my eyes checked on Saturday.

Apparently it is going to snow. This weird ass climate thing is really starting to get a bit freaky

An older shot for today. I found this in the archives and thought it would translate to black and white nicely.

It's been a mad weekend. Even so I have watched quite a few decent things on the box. 'Heroes' is an amazing Sci Fi series. 'Children of Men' is just unmissable. An absolute stunner this one. It's a sort of '1984' meets 'The Handmaid's tale' kinda movie. An lastly 'Little Miss Sunshine' which is just a hoot.

It is late and I find myself alone with my thoughts. Not a great day today but at least I found this little photo buried in the RAWs I took in Paris. See what you think.

I have posted a black and white of the hustle and bustle of gay par-ree here. I don't think I would enjoy living in a metropolis quite as much as the country. Don't get me wrong. Generally I love people but I also appreciate their absence when needed (no offence intended reader).

Mum is back home and hopefully on the way to recovery (at least I hope so). So for the moment my family is holding it together.

I have decided, for a while, to join in posting photos at PhotoFriday instead of having monthly themes myself. I will finish out the black and white for this month as well though.

Didn't manage to get to Peterborough. Bugger! Looks like I will go tomorrow if mum comes out of hospital. I think she is feeling a bit better, thank goodness.

Here is a Photo of flowers in the sun this morning. It's important to have a nice image up today I think.

My mums not very well and in hospital so I am driving back and forth between Leicester and Peterborough. I don't know when I will get to post more photos. Sometimes it feels like my family is falling apart since Gramps died in '05.

AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhh!

Hmmm. Didn't help (Still feel sick with worry). Think I will get on with my work to take my mind off the situation.

I added below right a button for photofriday that links to a site where they have a photography competition every week. A topic is chosen then people post links to images on their sites and after midnight on friday everyone votes for their favourite. Thought it might be fun to have a go.

I took this photograph in the studio of another designer that is in the same building as my work's studio. It reminds me of one of those 'B' movie posters you used to get in the 50s and 60s, like 'IT came from the desert' or 'Tarantula'. Anyway I like it, because while it's not as clear as a photo I took later, it does has more atmosphere.

Oh and here is a comedy image taken of me by Ian at work.

James sent me through this which is just amazing. This is taken from an actual text book and has to be read to be believed. It concerns how women should be with their men at bed time. Ah, a simpler time...

Nik and I went for a walk around Desford yesterday and I took some photographs. Not that it will win any awards but I did take this reasonable shot of the exterior of a cottage that was on our path. Here it is, in glorious black and white, which works quite well as it is was (sort of mock tudor style).

Another black and white shot of my Noo.

More Paris photos in mono, shot just outside the Louvre.

Another Paris photo, this time in the black and white theme.

There was a time a few days ago when I thought the rain might not stop and I would find myself in an episode of the 'Young Ones'. For those old enough to remember I was thinking of the one when it rained continuously and the housemates eventually submerge in their house, watching great whites swim by the living room window. Anyway, the rain has stopped and the river, that had flooded near where I live, has settled back down. Before the waters have completely receded I thought I would take a photo.

See, you knew there was a point to my rambling? Didn't you?

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy black and white for this month's theme but I have to say I am happy I decided to do it. I am really enjoying trying to get something good in mono and there are so many ways to do it post processing. Anyway here is today's, taken atop the Castle hill in Mountsorrel near where I live.

This months photo theme is black and white. I don't really have many recent mono shots so I thought that was as good a theme as any. Here is the first. Nik thinks the photo is a bit boring and she may be right. It's just that I was lying there, not wanting to get out of bed and thought I quite liked the way the light was coming through the window. I'll leave it up to you to decide dear reader.

First of all, Happy Birthday Malc for yesterday, and Happy Birthday today for Nik's friend Rachel.

In the Timken Mill the walls are covered in pipes and cables all of which are painted. All this paint has peeled back and the whole place looks so worn. It's a photographers dream because the whole look of decay is amazing, although the dark is a bit of a problem. That said, the 18-200mm Nikon really handles low light shooting very well with the fast 50mm Nikon lens waiting in the wings to lend a hand.

I still haven't decided on my monthly photo theme and probably should before the month is over. I just really can't make up my mind. I was thinking of just shooting a PAD. Or maybe shooting for black and white? Maybe more portraits? (as I don't have as many portraits as I would like). I dunno, we'll see.

Poker night is delayed a week now and at Le Chiffre's house now rather than mine.

I have been making mum's website so I haven't posted for a while. ISIS is now up and running in its first state. The flash gets really annoying but, hey, my mum wanted it and is happy so...

Here is another Louvre shot. Some more of the beautiful paintings in that spectacular museum.

No news on a theme for the month. I haven't had time to think about it.

Oh and guys, thanks for the flowers. Nik really loves them!

I completely forgot about choosing a theme for this months main photography. I guess because last months theme was an absence of one.

Another shot from the Louvre, this time in Napoleon's quarters there. It's one of his living rooms. Rather plush eh?

And apologies for the shot above. I couldn't really find a pic I fancied putting there, so I am afraid I chose the one above and added the moustache and glasses – I am very silly!